Gung Hey Fat Choy Greenacres

Greenacres students ushered in the year of the rabbit, Chinese New Year 4709, on Friday February 4.  The children experienced the arrival of the New Year, which is traditionally celebrated for 15 days ending with the Lantern Festival on Day 15.

Two main entrances of the school and the lunchroom were decorated with bright, colorful ornaments; long vertical banners proclaiming old Chinese proverbs and auspicious New Year sayings. Red lanterns, paper dragons, firecracker garlands and signs with Chinese characters for happiness, spring, prosperity and longevity made for a very festive school. The bulletin board at the Huntington Avenue entrance was decorated with rabbits, New Year red envelopes, Chinese characters and information about the Year of the Rabbit.

The festivities began with Greenacres fifth annual a lion parade. Ms. Pelekis' first grade class led the parade throughout the school, with parent Chip Lee manning the lion's head. The noise and the bustle of a Chinese New Year parade, particularly the use of firecrackers, is meant to scare away any evil spirits and to welcome a new year of peace and abundance. During the week of Chinese New Year, numerous parents collaborated to make presentations in eight classes at Greenacres.